Cable management system

ABSTRACT

A cable management system for a patch panel component having a connectivity interface configured to connect with cables includes a cable support plate and two cable support brackets. Each cable support bracket includes a support bar, a first bracket and a second bracket. A fastener hingedly attaches the first bracket to the second bracket and is positioned to slideably mount the first and second brackets to the support bar. The first and second brackets include mounting plates that move toward and away from one another when sliding the cable support brackets. The brackets mount to opposed projecting pins on a patch panel. The fastener holds each cable support bracket in the desired position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present patent application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/666,503, filed Jun. 29, 2012, whichapplication is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cable management system, and moreparticularly, to cable support brackets for telecommunications cables.

BACKGROUND

Numerous cable management systems exist today and are used in variousequipment applications, such as telecommunications, data transmission,networking, video and the like. Conventional cable management systemsinclude a patch panel and a cable support bar that is coupled to thepatch panel for managing cables on a rear of the patch panel. The cablesupport bar is mounted to the patch panel, such as with fasteners. Thereis a need for an improved cable management system having a cable supportbar.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a solution to cable management systems. Acable management system including a cable support device and a patchpanel is disclosed. The cable support device includes two cable supportbrackets and a cable support plate. Each cable support bracket includesa support bar, a first bracket and a second bracket. An adjustable slideportion of the cable management system slides into place on each of thecable support brackets and causes a self-contained mechanical lock. Theslide mechanism is integrated into the sides of the support bar.

In one implementation, the cable support plate slides forward and backto engage and disengage the brackets onto the patch panel. As the cablesupport device slides forward, mounting plates of the brackets arepositioned over pins in the patch panel to be seated thereon. A fasteneris used to lock the cable support device into place and preventdisengagement of the mounting plates from the patch panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cable support device assembled to apatch panel in an intermediate position according to the principles ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cable support device unassembled toa patch panel in a fully collapsed position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the right cable support bracket shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cable support device assembled tothe patch panel in an installed position;

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded view of the cable support deviceassembled to the patch panel;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the right cable support bracket shown inFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cable support device in a fullyengaged position;

FIG. 8 is bottom perspective view of the cable support device assembledto a patch panel in a fully engaged position;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the right cable support bracket shown inFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the cable support device shownin FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary aspects of thepresent disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughoutthe drawings to refer to the same or like structure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cable management system 100 in accordance with thepresent disclosure. Cable management system 100 includes a cable supportdevice 200 including a pair of opposing cable support brackets 32assembled to a patch panel 88, and a cable support plate 10 that extendsbetween cable support brackets 32. Each cable support bracket 32 issecured to patch panel 88 by hand and without the need of a separatetool. As such, each cable support bracket 32 is secured to patch panel88 by a self-locking mechanism that is explained below in more detail.

Patch panel 88 can take many forms and include termination locations atfront 90 in the form of copper jacks, fiber adapters, and copper orfiber modules or cassettes.

FIG. 1 is a depiction of each cable support bracket 32 engaged to arespective mounting post 58, 78 to secure a cable support device 200 topatch panel 88 or remove cable support 200 from patch panel 88. From theposition in FIG. 1, cable support device 200 can be fully secured topatch panel 88 by pushing a cable support plate 10 toward patch panel88. From the position in FIG. 1, cable support device 200 can be removedfrom patch panel 88 by pulling cable support plate 10 away from patchpanel 88.

Cable management system 100 includes cable support plate 10 and twocable support brackets 32 where one cable support bracket 32 is on eachend of cable support plate 10. Each cable support bracket 32 includes asupport bar 12 defining an elongated slot 14 therein, a first bracket 34including a first mounting plate 56 defining an opening 57, a secondbracket 60 including a second mounting plate 76 defining an opening 77,and a fastener 82 which hingedly attaches first bracket 34 to secondbracket 60. Fastener 82 is positioned in elongated slot 14 to slideablymount first bracket 34 and second bracket 60 to support bar 12. Supportbar 12 includes an upper rail 20 and a lower rail 18, where firstbracket 34 and second bracket 60 each include at least one rail to matewith at least one of upper rail 20 and lower rail 18 of support bar 12.The sliding movement of fastener 82 in elongated slot 14 causes firstmounting plate 56 and second mounting plate 76 to move toward and awayfrom one another. Upper rail 20 and lower rail 18 are parallel to oneanother.

Cable support device 200 engages patch panel 88 by a slide mechanismdesigned in each cable support bracket 32 on opposite ends of cablesupport plate 10 to provide a connection onto mounting posts 58, 78 ofpatch panel 88. Second bracket 60 pivots against a fixed first bracket34 as cable support device 200 slides toward and away from patch panel88. Each cable support bracket 32 slides relative to patch panel 88. Tolatch each cable support bracket 32 into place, cable support device 200is pushed in toward patch panel 88 along elongated slot 14 of a supportbar 12. Second mounting plate 76 of second bracket 60 moves intoposition over upper mounting post 58 while first mounting plate 56 offirst bracket 34 is positioned over lower mounting post 78. FIG. 2 showsa perspective view of cable support device 200 with first bracket 34 andsecond bracket 60 positioned over upper mounting post 58 and lowermounting post 78 respectively. FIG. 3 shows an enlargement of this view.First bracket 34 remains fixed as second bracket 60 pivots against firstbracket 34. Each cable support bracket 32 is movable from a lockedposition to an unlocked position by sliding toward or away from a patchpanel 88.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a partially exploded view of cable supportdevice 200 unassembled to patch panel 88 is shown. Cable support device200 includes cable support plate 10 and two cable support brackets 32 onopposite sides of cable support plate 10. Each cable support bracket 32includes support bar 12, first bracket 34 and second bracket 60configured to be movably coupled to one another as a self-lockingmechanism. A locking mechanism 82 engages cable support bracket 32 tofacilitate relative movement along an elongated slot 14 of support bar12.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of exploded cable support bracket 32 shown inFIG. 5 detached from patch panel 88. Support bar 12 includes a lowerrail 18 and an upper rail 20 that are opposing ends extending from afirst upright wall 22 of support bar 12. First upright wall 22 definesan elongated slot 14 that extends along a horizontal axis. Parallel toupper rail 20 is a lever 16 that is angled downwardly to provide a leadin ramp for support bar 12 to slide into second bracket 60.

First bracket 34 is configured to receive support bar 12 where it willnest within a channel 50 of first bracket 34. First bracket 34 includesa second upright wall 52 having an inner surface 48 and an outer surface46. Second upright wall 52 of first bracket 34 defines an opening 36.First bracket 34 extends between a front end 44 and a rear end 42. A toprail 40 of first bracket 34 extends from second upright wall 52 wheretop rail 40 and a bottom rail 38 of first bracket 34 are opposed. Toprail 40 is configured to capture upper rail 20 of support bar 12. Bottomrail 38 of first bracket 34 is configured to position along lower rail18 of support bar 12.

First bracket 34 further includes a downwardly extending tab 54 adjacentand integral with second upright wall 52, and a first horizontalmounting plate 56 extending from second upright wall 52 and integralwith downwardly extending tab 54 defining an opening 57 therein. Firstbracket 34 is coupled to support bar 12 such that an outer surface 30 ofsupport bar 12 engages an inner surface 48 of first bracket 34. Firstupright wall 22 and second upright wall 52 engage one another, upperrail 20 of support bar 12 and top rail 40 of first bracket engage oneanother, and lower rail 18 of support bar 12 and bottom rail 38 of firstbracket engage one another for horizontal sliding movement during use.

Second bracket 60 includes a rail 80 at a front end 66 thereof. Rail 80is integrally formed with a third upright wall 72 and includes anupwardly extending tab 74. A second mounting plate 76 is adjacent andintegral with upwardly extending tab 74 and defines an opening 77therein.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of cable support device 200 according tothe present invention. First mounting plate 56 and second mounting plate76 are both formed at approximately 90 degrees. Each mounting plate 56,76 include a respective opening 57, 77 therethrough for receiving arespective upper and lower mounting post 58, 78 during assembly. FIG. 8is an underside view of cable management system 100 showing secondmounting plate 76 fully positioned over upper mounting post 58. FIG. 9shows an enlarged view of FIG. 8 depicting an underside view of cablesupport bracket 32 connected to patch panel 88. FIG. 10 is an undersideview of cable support device 200 unassembled to patch panel 88.

Second bracket 60 includes a third upright wall 72 defining an opening62 along a longitudinal axis. A rail 80 extends from third upright wall72, where rail 80 is configured to capture first bracket 34. Rail 80 ofsecond bracket 60 is configured to slide over lever 16 of support bar 12to provide pivoting and sliding movement of second bracket 60 withrespect to first bracket 34.

Each cable support bracket 32 includes a fastener 82 configured tosecure support bar 12, first bracket 34, and second bracket 60 together.Cable support bracket 32 is moveable along elongated slot 14 of supportbar 12 and can be held in a desired position with fastener 82. Fastener82 may be any type of fastener, such as a threaded fastener, athumbscrew, a pin, a bolt, a dowel, a rivet, a latch, a wire tie, andthe like. One fastener includes a thumbscrew used with a hex nut 84 andwasher 86. During assembly, opening 36 of first bracket 34 is alignedwith a corresponding opening 62 of second bracket 60 within slot 14 ofsupport bar 12 and fastener 82 is used to securely couple first bracket34, second bracket 60 and support bar 12 to one another. Openings 36, 62are elongated such that first bracket 34 and second bracket 60 are movedlinearly along slot 14 of support bar 12. Therefore, the relativepositions of first bracket 34 and second bracket 60 are adjustable.

During assembly, when mounting each cable support bracket 32 to patchpanel 88, cable support plate 10 is moved toward patch panel 88 causingfirst mounting plate 56 and second mounting plate 76 to mount to upperand lower mounting posts 58, 78 by positioning mounting plates 56, 76over mounting posts 58, 78 such that the mounting posts 58, 78 arereceived within openings 57, 77. Cable support bracket 32 is moved intoplace and force mounting plates 56, 76 to spaced apart positions tomount cable support device 200 to patch panel 88. Fastener 82 holdscable support bracket 32 in position.

When removing cable support plate 10 from patch panel 88, fastener 82 isloosened and cable support plate 10 is pulled away from patch panel 88and cable support bracket 32 will disengaged from mounting post 58, 78.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above describedembodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination of eachother. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings of the invention withoutdeparting from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientationsof the various components, and the number and positions of the variouscomponents described herein are intended to define parameters of certainembodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely exemplaryembodiments. Many other embodiments and modifications within the spiritand scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the artupon reviewing the above description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cable management system comprising: a cablesupport plate; two cable support brackets, one cable support bracket oneach end of the cable support plate, each cable support bracketincluding: a support bar defining an elongated slot; a first bracketincluding a first mounting plate defining an opening; a second bracketincluding a second mounting plate defining an opening; a fastener whichhingedly attaches the first bracket to the second bracket; the fastenerpositioned in the elongated slot to slideably mount the first bracketand the second bracket to the support bar; wherein the support barincludes an upper rail and a lower rail; wherein the first bracket andthe second bracket each include at least one rail to mate with at leastone of the upper rail and the lower rail of the support bar; whereinsliding movement of the fastener in the elongated slot causes the firstmounting plate and the second mounting plate to move toward and awayfrom one another.
 2. The cable management system according to claim 1,further comprising a patch panel with an upper mounting post and a lowermounting post on each end of the patch panel.
 3. The cable managementsystem according to claim 2, wherein the first mounting plate ispositioned over the lower mounting post and the second mounting plate ispositioned over the upper mounting post.
 4. The cable management systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the fastener includes a threaded fastener.5. The cable management system according to claim 1, further comprisinga lever that is angled downwardly to provide a lead in ramp for thesupport bar to slide into the second bracket.
 6. A cable managementsystem comprising: a) two cable support brackets each including asupport bar, a first bracket and a second bracket; wherein the firstbracket and the second bracket are pivotably coupled to one another at ahinge, wherein the hinge is slidably coupled to an elongated slot in thesupport bar; and b) a cable support plate, wherein each of the supportbars are coupled to the cable support plate on opposite ends of thecable support plate, wherein the support bar includes: 1) a firstupright wall being integral with the elongated slot, wherein theelongated slot extends along an axis; 2) an upper rail and a lower railbeing opposed to one another extending from the first upright wall ofthe support bar; and 3) a lever extending from the upper rail; whereinthe first bracket includes: 1) a second upright wall of the firstbracket; 2) a channel along an axis of the first bracket, wherein thechannel is configured to receive the support bar; 3) a top rail and abottom rail being opposed extending from the second upright wall of thefirst bracket, wherein the top rail is configured to capture the upperrail of the support bar, and the bottom rail of the first bracket isconfigured to be secured in position with respect to the lower rail ofthe support bar; 4) a downwardly extending tab adjacent to and integralwith the second upright wall; 5) a first mounting plate extending fromthe second upright wall defining an opening therein; wherein the secondbracket includes: 1) a third upright wall of the second bracket; 2) arail extending from the third upright wall of the second bracket,wherein the rail is configured to capture the first bracket; 3) anupwardly extending tab integral with the third upright wall of thesecond bracket; 4) a second mounting plate extending from the thirdupright wall defining an opening therein; wherein the rail of the secondbracket engages the lever of the support bar to allow movement of thesecond bracket with respect to the first bracket; and wherein each cablesupport bracket includes a fastener defining the hinge and configured tobe received in the elongated slot, the fastener selectively positionablealong the elongated slot to secure the first bracket and the secondbracket together.
 7. The cable management system according to claim 6,further comprising a patch panel with an upper mounting post and a lowermounting post on each end of the patch panel.
 8. The cable managementsystem according to claim 7, wherein the first mounting plate ispositioned over the lower mounting post and the second mounting plate ispositioned over the upper mounting post.
 9. The cable management systemaccording to claim 6, wherein the fastener includes a threaded fastener.